I am delighted that you have made contact with bigboots and and believe what he says. That adds credence to him and should halt further arguments over his truthfulness. How did you make contact with him? I'm sure many of us would like to know. Also, what evidence/info. has turned up to convince you of his veracity?
I would also like to apologise for calling you a windbag and for one or two other things I have said too. I have been feeling under a lot of stress which has made me less tolerant and I have needed to have a bit of hope. It is also easy to project one's anger on to others if one is not very careful. The hope has come with bigboots revelations (at least once I felt there might be genuine info. being presented to us). Your recent negativeness towards him didn't help. Your change of view towards him has helped a lot.
You do seem to be getting a sound grasp of this situation and with your obvious experience in this area you may well be of more help to us than I have previously thought.